20 New Community Care Placements for Bundaberg Tuesday, 18 January 2005

Twenty new aged care allocations have been allocated to Bundaberg-based organisations under the Commonwealth’s latest Aged Care Approval Round. Local Member Paul Neville today announced 10 Community Aged Care Packages had been allocated to Ozcare Bundaberg, while the Blue Nursing Service would receive funding for 10 Extended Aged Care at Home places. Gayndah’s Wakka Wakka Jinda

Aboriginal Corporation also received five Community Aged Care Packages under the latest round. Mr Neville said each new package meant older residents could stay in their own homes while receiving the

higher level of care they needed. “By providing these places, we can give older people the care they need, when and where they need it,” he said. “Both of these organisations perform a valuable service to the local community, and these new places will enhance their capacity to continue doing so.” “The new places also build on the Australian Government’s allocation of more than 55,600 new aged care places since 1996 - compare this to the 10,000 bed shortage left by Labor in 1996.” “As part of the 2004 Federal Budget, the Australian Government increased the number of places available for people who need care, including doubling the number of community care places allocated each year.” Over the next three years, the Government will allocate an estimated 27,900 new aged care places, including more than 13,000 in 2004-05. The latest aged care packages were allocated to those applicants who demonstrated they could best meet the care needs of the ageing community within a specified region. Mr Neville said the announcement of the results of the applications for residential aged care places and capital grants would be announced shortly. Additional information is available at www.ageing.health.gov.au/acar2004/index.htm